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Gross motor skills are foundational skills required for the development of play, self-care, fine motor and academic skills.
Providing education for families in relation to the importance of foundational gross motor skills is important.
When to refer:
Make a referral to a paediatric physiotherapist when a child is not achieving age-appropriate motor milestones or has difficulty with physical activities.
An occupational therapy referral could also be considered for the child’s functional engagement in everyday activities requiring physical motor skills.
Early referral and access to the right service is important for both the child and parent/carer.
Children who present with (but not limited to) the following difficulties should be referred for further assessment:
- not meeting motor development milestones eg sitting, crawling, walking
- difficulty performing everyday motor tasks and activities requiring balance and coordination eg walking up/downstairs, helping with dressing, running into things or tripping over
- poor posture eg difficulty holding posture to sit unsupported in a chair to eat, w-sitting, leaning on objects and people for stability
- increased fatigue when having to engage in gross motor tasks and activities
- avoidance of movement and gross motor tasks and activities
Encourage parents to:
- prioritise floor tummy time for infants
- avoid seated baby equipment eg baby walker and exercise jumpers
- promote outdoor play and people games for children of all ages
- access parks and playgroups to practise gross motor skills